CLAIMS OF PRIORITY
[0001] The present application claims prority from Japanese application serial no. JP2004-117799,
filed on April 13, 2004, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference
into this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a data notification method and a data notification
system, and more specifically to a data notification method and a data notification
system that are suitable for use when entities to which advertising or data is provided
form a group.
[0003] As loudspeakers and display units are becoming generic, systems that provide data
to those persons located in the vicinity of such device through commercial use of
advertising, etc. are offered for practical use. Since provision of data is conducted
in a stereotyped manner with those systems, there is a problem in that intended persons
who are supposed to receive the data may pass through the device without stopping,
and effect of data provision to the intended persons who are supposed to receive the
data is not always expected to be high.
[0004] The "image display method" described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2002-73321
stated below is one of the measures for improving this problem. The method offers
an image display method which can enhance effects of advertising, or effects and values
of the displayed image for persons or customers by automatically switching indoor
or outdoor advertising displays or image displays according to characteristics of
persons, or more specifically to their characteristics as customers.
[0005] The above-described prior art is designed to enhance advertising effects by recognizing
characteristics of persons who appear in an image taken.
[0006] However, the method is designed to display an image by assuming the status of individual
person. For a case where the image is utilized by a plurality of users at the same
time, therefore, it is difficult to provide data in an adequate method when providing
the group of those persons with data.
[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the problem of the above-described prior
art, and it is an object of the invention to provide data notification method which
enables an effective data notification with an adequate method for a case where a
plurality of intended persons are supposed to receive data such as advertising at
the same time and further such intended persons form a group.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In the present invention, data notification devices such as a display unit, a radio
station and a data acquisition device such as a camera are installed in a public space
of a station, a shopping street, an exhibition hall, etc. Thereafter, profile data
of a mobile device owned by an intended person to whom data is notified (hereinafter
referred to as the "intended person for data notification") is acquired via a radio,
or positional data is acquired by imaging the intended person for data notification.
[0009] Then, based on the data thus acquired on the intended person for data notification,
a judgment is made as to whether a plurality of intended persons for data notification
form a group or not, and the intended person for data notification who has the highest
importance among persons in the group is be determined, by giving the highest importance
to the intended person for data notification among all the persons in the group who
has the highest authority over the persons in the group.
[0010] Then, a judgment is made, based on the positional relationship of the data notification
device or the data acquisition device, as to whether or not the intended person for
data notification who is determined to have the highest importance in the group is
in a staying status at a certain location in the public space. If it is judged that
the intended person stays at the location, an action to change the display on the
display unit, etc. is taken to enhance the effects of advertising, etc.
[0011] With the data notification system, by directing an attention to the intended person
for data notification having high importance in the group, changing advertising displays,
and giving better viewing of advertisement to the intended person for data notification
having high importance, it is possible to make the intended person for data notification
having high importance to make a halt and eventually to make the group itself to be
in a staying status, thus enabling to enhance notification effects of data on advertising,
etc.
[0012] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide
a data notification system which enables effective notification of data for a case
where a plurality of intended persons receive a notification such as advertising at
the same time and such intended persons form a group.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013]
Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of a data notification system according to a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a software configuration diagram of the data notification system according
to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a profile data table to be stored in a profiles
DB 8;
Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image data table to be stored in an images
DB 9;
Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating processes of the data notification system according
to the first embodiment of the present invention (Part 1);
Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating processes of the data notification system according
to the first embodiment of the present invention (Part 2);
Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display unit of the data notification
system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 8 is a configuration diagram of a data notification system according to a second
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a software configuration diagram of the data notification system according
to the second embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 10 is a flow chart illustrating processes of the data notification system according
to the second embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described
with reference to Figs. 1 to 10.
[First Embodiment]
[0015] Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described
with reference to Figs. 1 to 7.
[0016] First, configuration of the data notification system according to the first embodiment
of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
[0017] Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of the data notification system according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] Fig. 2 is a software configuration diagram of the data notification system according
to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] The embodiment refers to a system which, using a display unit installed in a public
space to which many users visit, provides and notifies data in a method that is appropriate
for the status of a user located in the vicinity of the display unit. Examples of
the public space include a station, an exhibition hall and a multi-tenant building.
[0020] In the system, a display unit 1 is connected to an image display server 2. Here,
data may be provided to visitors by using voices through equipment such as a speaker
instead of using the display unit 1. The display unit 1 displays images stored in
an images database (DB) 9 in responding to a request from the image display server
2. Then, the data displayed on the display unit 1 is provided to a plurality of users
3 who visit the public space where the display unit 1 is installed.
[0021] Here, the data to be displayed on the display unit 1 includes guidance data of the
peripheral area and advertising data. One user 3 carries a mobile device 4 which incorporates
a computing device and/or a storage device. The mobile device 4 is connected to a
data processing server 6 via the radio station 5. The mobile device 4 can be a cell
phone, a personal digital assistance (PDA), a radio frequency identification (RF-ID)
tag, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc.
[0022] The data processing server 6 acquires data such as age, gender and family structure
of the user 3, who carry a mobile device 4, from the mobile device 4 and stores the
data in a profiles DB 8. To acquire the data, the user 3 may enter the data, or the
profile data of the user 3 who carries the mobile device may be acquired automatically
from the mobile device registered in advance.
[0023] Data on relationship between users who are presently located in the vicinity of the
display unit 1 is acquired, and a judgment is made as to whether the user 3 forms
a group or not.
[0024] Two methods are available for judging whether the users 3 form a group or not: one
method is to judge whether the users 3 belong to one group based on the profile data
acquired; and another method is to measure the grouping status based on positional
data transmitted from the mobile device 4. With these methods, an assumption that
the users 3 form a group can be made when the following conditions are satisfied:
A group of the users 3 remains in a certain area for a specific period of time, in
a certain area in a specific time zone, or in specific number of areas.
[0025] Then, within the group, a user 3 who is determined to have an influential power on
actions over persons in the group will be assumed to be a user 3 having high importance.
Specific examples of the group, and those of the user 3 having high importance will
be described later.
[0026] Alternatively, as a means for acquiring data on the users 3, formation of a group
by the users 3 may be judged by preparing a camera instead of the radio station 5
and using the image data taken by the camera. In this case, formation of the group
will be judged by recognizing the image taken by the camera.
[0027] Next, a user having high importance is determined in the group, the formation of
which is judged as stated above. The user having high importance in the group should
mean the user within the group who has the strongest influential power over the group
members. Such user may sometimes be the person who assumes the position as a leader
of the group, or otherwise, if family members form a group, a child may sometimes
be the user having high importance.
[0028] To determine the user having high importance, two methods are available: one method
is to refer to profile data; and another method is to use a vital sign that is captured
through a camera. With the latter method, for example, it is judged that which user
is attracting attentions of other users based on action data such as directions to
which users are facing and data on visual lines of users. In addition, the user who
is attracting attentions of other users most is assumed to be the user having an influential
power on actions, or the user having high importance. Alternatively, a user who has
determined, based on data on moving and acting directions of users, to takes the leading
position of the group for the longest period of time is assumed to be the user having
high importance.
[0029] It should be noted that examples of the groups and users having high importance will
be described later.
[0030] The data processing server 6 is connected to the image display server 2 via a network
7. With the system, to allow the user having high importance in the group to halt,
it is designed to enhance notification effect of data in a manner to change data to
be displayed, or to change the display methods according to timing before and after
the user having high importance in the group makes a halt.
[0031] If the user having high importance can be successfully induced to make a halt, other
group members will also make a halt. Therefore, it is expected that notification effects
of data will be enhanced.
[0032] It should be noted that, hereinafter, the status that a user remains in a certain
area for a specific period of time shall be referred to as a "staying status. " More
specifically, it is intended that, by directing an attention to the status where the
user having high importance stays in a certain area when viewed from the data display
device 1, displays or methods of notifying data will be changed according to timing
before and after the user is in a staying status.
[0033] Fig. 2 shows an example of the software configuration of the data notification system.
[0034] The mobile device 4 includes a profile data transmission program 11 which keeps data
on the users 3 who carry the mobile device 4 and transmits the data to be stored in
the profiles DB 9.
[0035] The data processing server 6 includes a profile data transmission program 11, a profile
data management program 12, a key person extraction program 13 and a staying characteristics
evaluation program 14, as software to be executed thereon.
[0036] The profile data transmission program 11 transmits profile data (which will be described
hereunder with reference to Fig. 3) of the mobile device 4.
[0037] The profile data management program 12 registers the profile data to be transmitted
thereto with the profiles DB 8, and updates or deletes the profile data registered
therein.
[0038] The key person extraction program 13 acquires profile data, or data on the users
3 which is acquired from a mobile device or from other data acquisition devices such
as a camera, analyzes the data, evaluates relationship between users, and determines
a user having high importance.
[0039] The staying characteristics evaluation program 14 makes a judgment as to whether
users stay or not, by judging that users stay in a certain area for a specified period
of time when viewed from a display unit or other data acquisition devices.
[0040] It should be noted that the profile data management program 12 may be arranged to
manage data on the users 3, the acquisition of which has been unsuccessful from the
profile data transmission program 11 for a certain period of time, in the profiles
DB 8 as history data.
[0041] The image display server 2 includes a displaying image management program 15 and
an image display control program 16 as programs to be executed thereon.
[0042] The displaying image management program 15 accumulates imaged to be displayed on
the display unit 1 in the images DB 9 and updates or deletes the images accumulated
in the images DB 9. The image display control program 16 controls actual display of
images on the display unit 1.
[0043] It should be noted that the key person extraction program 13 and the staying characteristics
evaluation program 14 may be installed in the image display server 2.
[0044] Next, a data structure to be used for the data notification system of the present
invention will be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4
[0045] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a profile data table to be stored in a
profiles DB 8.
[0046] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image data table to be stored in an
images DB 8.
[0047] The fields of the profile data table comprise: as shown in Fig. 3, a user ID 21 which
is an identifier of the users 3; age 22 and gender 23 which are attribute data of
the users; and registration time 26 which shows the registration time of the image
data in the profiles DB 8. Here, the attribute data of a user may include user data
on tastes and interests.
[0048] The fields of the profile data table further comprise relationship 24 which shows
relationship with other users 3 and a group ID 25 which shows identifiers of groups
to which the users 3 belong. The users having the same group ID 25 shall belong to
the same group. By managing groups in the manner described above, it is possible to
manage the users 3 when they belong to a plurality of groups.
[0049] It should be noted that, the relationship 24 in Fig. 3 shows relationship that is
uniquely determined within a family. The relationship shows an example of what is
called a nuclear family in which the relationship between the mother and a child is
defined uniquely.
[0050] The fields of the image data table comprise: an image ID 31 which is an identifier
of an image; intended age 32 which covers the range of ages of intended users for
which the image is displayed; intended gender 33 which shows sexuality of intended
users for which the image is displayed; a trigger 34 which shows whether the image
to be displayed is an image to be displayed for the users 3 having high importance;
and a path 35 which shows storage destination of the image. For a child of a lower
intended age, for example, it is possible to display an image of a popular cartoon
character, thus attracting attention of the child.
[0051] In addition, although not shown in the figure, it is possible, by adding a field
intended for a specific group, to display advertising images of games or of household
appliances when the group to be indicated by the field is intended for families; to
display advertising images related to business types when the group to be indicated
by the field is intended for companies; or to display advertising of painting tools
when it is intended for painting clubs.
[0052] Next, processes of a data notification system according to the first embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6.
[0053] Figs. 5 and 6 are flow charts showing processes of the data notification system according
to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0054] First, processes of a data processing system according to the embodiment will be
described, while referring to the flow chart shown in Fig. 5 step by step.
[0055] First, profile data of users are acquired from the mobile device 4 carried by the
users via the radio station 5 (ST1). Alternatively, user data may be acquired from
a camera or a sensor.
[0056] The data thus acquired is processed by the profile data management program 12 of
the data processing server 6.
[0057] Next, the data processing server 6 makes a judgment as to whether the users form
a group or not (ST2).
[0058] In the judgment to determine whether the users form a group or not, users who are
judged to belong to the same group are the users 3 with whom the same group ID 25
is registered with the profile data shown in Fig. 3. Alternatively, the users who
are judged to belong to the same group may be users 3 who are registered in the profiles
DB 8 in the same timing. Here, the judgment of the same timing to register users shall
be defined, for example, to be five seconds before and after another registration.
Here, when a plurality of data processing servers 6 are available, the judgment may
be made by inquiring other data processing servers 6 to define only a group of users
3, who are judged by the specified number or more of the data processing server 6
to be in a same group, as the group.
[0059] In addition, through measurement based on positional relationship of the radio station
5, devices such as a sensor and a camera acquiring data, and a display unit, it can
be defined that the users form a group when: users stay in a same area for a specified
period of time; or users are authorized to stay in a same area in a same time zone.
Further, when it is arranged to capture movements of users in a plurality of areas,
it may be defined that users who are together in the specific number of areas form
a group.
[0060] When it is judged there is no group in step ST2, then the step goes to step ST1.
If it is judged there is a group in step ST2, then the step goes to step ST3.
[0061] When it is judged there is a group, relationships among all users belonging to the
group are analyzed by the key person extraction program 13 (ST3). When the presence
of a group is judged based on profiles data, values of the relationship 24 and the
group ID 25 are acquired from the profiles DB 8 as intra-group relationship data and
the data is analyzed. In addition, when user data is acquired from a camera, etc.,
relationship among users within the group is analyzed based on the image acquired.
[0062] Next, a user having high importance is identified based on the analysis made in ST3
(ST4). For example, the user 3 whose age is lowest in the group, or the user 3 who
is found to be in the highest order from the relationship data in the group is judged
to have high importance.
[0063] More specifically, in the former case, for example, a "family" is assumed as a group,
and among users who are stated "child" in the relationship 24 of the profile data,
the user 3 having the lowest age 22 is judged to be a user having high importance.
In this case, the user whose height is lowest among users in the group may be determined
to be the user having high importance. The height may be detected with human body
detection sensors located at different levels or detected through image processing,
or otherwise, may be detected from an item "height" in the profiles DB 8 by newly
adding the item.
[0064] In the latter case, for example, an organization such as a company is assumed as
a group, and the user 3 whose relationship is identified to be senior by other users
3 is judged to be the user having high importance.
[0065] Further, another method for determining a user having high importance is to assume
relationship through image recognition for a user whose data on the relationship 24
and the same group ID 25 are not registered, or for a user whose profile data cannot
be acquired. For example, a user who is found, through tracking of visual lines of
the user 3, to have the longest cumulative time during which the user is looked on
by the user 3 other than himself or herself. Alternatively, a user who keeps the leading
position for a long time is assumed based on data on moving directions and actions
of users, and the user is determined to be the user having high importance. Here,
when there are a plurality of groups, a user having high importance is chosen from
a group having the largest number of users. Alternatively, a user having high importance
may be chosen from a group having a longer period of staying time. It should be noted
that a plurality of users having high importance may be chosen.
[0066] Further, for a case of an exhibition, etc., a user belonging to the most popular
category, as determined based on data on visits of users, may be determined to be
the user having high importance. For example, when many customers are in their 10s
of age, users who appear in the field of age 22 from 10 to 19 may be determined to
be the user having high importance. In addition, the users 3 may set the person having
high importance via the mobile device 4.
[0067] When no user having high importance is judged to be available in step ST4, the step
returns to step ST1. If it is judged in step ST4 that a user having high importance
is available, image data is acquired from the image data table by the image display
control program 16 of the image display server 2. Then, an image intended for the
users 3 who is judged to be the user having high importance is displayed on the display
unit 1 (ST5).
[0068] Next, for a case where a certain period of time has elapsed since the user having
high importance was registered, the staying characteristics evaluation program 14
judges whether the users 3 belonging to the group stays or not (ST6).
[0069] Judgment of staying can be carried out in the manner that the user having high importance
stays for a certain period of time in a same area when viewed from data-acquisition
devices such as a display unit or a radio station, by utilizing a position recognition
technology by using image processing, or a technology offering more precise position
recognition such as an RFID.
[0070] In addition, staying may be determined by a condition that the user having high importance
has come close to a data-acquisition device such as a display unit or a radio station
for a certain period of time or over.
[0071] Alternatively, staying may be determined in the manner to make a judgment based on
a condition that a user having high importance has come close, within a certain distance,
to a data-acquisition device such as a display unit or a radio station. Here, the
term "for a certain period of time" may be defined to be a period of time equivalent
to a time period during which an image is displayed in step ST5, or alternatively,
the period may be defined to be 30 seconds, for example, without being bound by the
above-described method.
[0072] Further, staying may be determined by a condition that the user having high importance
has performed any input operations on a display unit or a terminal unit.
[0073] Here, the user to be judged whether he or she stays or not may be a certain number
or more of users in a group or may be all users in the group.
[0074] If it is not judged that the user having high importance is present, the process
returns to step ST1.
[0075] If it is judged that the user having high importance is present in step ST6, common
advertising data is provided to the group by the display image control program 16
via the display unit 1 (ST7). Alternatively, the common data is displayed to users
in the group except the user having high importance.
[0076] For example, when family members form a group and the user having high importance
is a child in the family, images such as cartoons which attract interests of the child
will be displayed to the child who is the user having high importance, and advertising
of toy shops or children' s cloths are displayed to other family members or the parents.
[0077] The data to be displayed here includes advertising data, guidance data, etc. Regarding
the mode of notifying data, image data may be displayed on the display unit 1 shown
in Fig. 1, or data may be notified via voices through devices such as a speaker.
[0078] Further, the data to be notified may be associated with each other at time points
before and after the user determined to have high importance or all users in the group
come to be in a staying status. As for the example described above, a case where advertising
will be displayed to the parents when the child is interested in a cartoon and makes
a halt falls under this case.
[0079] In addition, the mode of display at time points before and after the user determined
to have high importance or all users in the group come to be in a staying status may
be modified in various ways.
[0080] For example, it is also possible to display data that is required to be highlighted
in a noticeable way, by modifying the notification position, size and amount of data
according to display data at time points before and after the staying. Further, the
data to be displayed after the staying may be displayed either at the upper part,
the lower part, the right side or the left side of the data to be displayed before
the staying.
[0081] Furthermore, it may be arranged in the manner that, considering the positional relationship
between the user having high importance and other users in the group, the data to
be displayed after the staying of the user determined to have high importance may
be displayed either on the front/back or the right/left side of the user having high
importance, or otherwise, either at the forward or the backward position in a moving
direction of the user having high importance. The reason for the arrangement is that,
since the user having high importance attracts the attention of other users, displaying
of data at a position closer to the user having high importance would facilitate the
data to be captured by the user having high importance.
[0082] In addition, for the similar reason, after the user having high importance has stayed,
data may be displayed on a display unit that is installed in the vicinity of a location
on an extended line of a line connecting other users in the group and the user determined
to have high importance.
[0083] For example, with the example shown above, when the user having high importance is
a child, the parents should usually direct their eyes on their child when the child
made a halt. This is the reason why data to be notified to the child will be displayed
on the extended line of their visual lines.
[0084] Further alternatively, if display is made on a display unit or a terminal unit in
a regular state, when the user having high importance performs an input operation
on the display unit or the terminal unit, it may be judged as a staying status for
notification of display-only data in a one-way manner.
[0085] Next, a variation of the data notification system according to the embodiment will
be described with reference to Fig. 6.
[0086] The example shown in Fig. 6 exemplifies a case where data is steadily provided and
advertising data to a group is provided when a user having high importance is in a
staying status.
[0087] With the example, an image is chosen from images stored in the images DB 9 and display
of the image is steadily performed on the display unit 1 by the image display control
program 16 (ST11). Upon completion of display of the image, the process goes to step
ST1, wherein processing is executed in a similar way to the flow shown in Fig. 5.
With the display example, a mode in which data like a neon sign on the street is continuously
displayed is assumed.
[0088] Next, an example of the display unit of the data notification system according to
the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 7.
[0089] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the display unit of the data notification
system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0090] The display unit 1 is characterized that it includes a plurality of displays, thus
allowing for two types of displaying method.
[0091] The display unit 1 includes an input interface 63, a camera 62, a lower-position
speaker 64, and a lower-position display 61, which are installed at lower positions,
and a higher-position speaker 66, and a higher-position display 65, which are installed
at higher positions.
[0092] The devices installed at lower-positions are installed at levels that enable a child
to view the devices, and the devices installed at higher-positions are installed at
positions higher than the child's height. The input interface 63 is an input device
such as a joystick.
[0093] The lower-position speaker 64 and the higher-position speaker 66 are devices to output
voices and they are connected to the lower-position display 61 and the higher-position
display 65, respectively.
[0094] For a case where the display unit 1 is applied to the data notification system of
the embodiment, the above-described group should be a family. In this case, the display
unit can be used effectively in such ways: displaying content such as a cartoon for
children on the lower-position display 61 when the user having high importance is
a child; and, displaying advertising of shops such as a toy shop or a video shop related
to cartoons to be viewed by the adult users 3, when the child is in a staying status
and starts using the input interface 63 of the lower-position display 61 on the higher-position
display 65.
[Second Embodiment]
[0095] Hereinafter, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described
with reference to Fig. 8 and Fig. 10.
[0096] First, a configuration of a data notification system according to the second embodiment
of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9.
[0097] Fig. 8 is a configuration diagram of the data notification system according to the
second embodiment of the present invention.
[0098] Fig. 9 is a software configuration diagram of the data notification system according
to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0099] The embodiment refers to a system wherein data on tenants which are connected via
a network is provided, according to the statuses of groups of users located in the
vicinity of the display unit, by a display unit installed in a public space to which
many users visit.
[0100] The data notification system shown in Fig. 8 is a system which is realized by adding
a tenant 41, an advertiser 42, a tenant terminal unit 43 and an in-tenant camera 44
to the system shown in Fig. 1.
[0101] The tenant 41 is a tenant owned by the advertiser 42, and the users 3 visit thereto
as customers. For example, the tenant 41 can be a coffee house, a Japanese-style bar,
a food store, a clothing store, a barber, a beauty shop, an amusement arcade, etc.
The advertiser 42 will make advertising on the display unit 1 by using the tenant
terminal unit 43. The in-tenant camera 44 is used to take pictures of the status in
the shop.
[0102] The software configuration of the data notification system of the embodiment is shown
in Fig. 9.
[0103] The data notification system shown in Fig. 9 is a system which is realized by adding
an advertising registration program 51, a tenant data transmission program 52, and
a group data acquisition program 53 to the data notification system shown in Fig.
2. Either of these programs runs on the tenant terminal unit 43.
[0104] The advertising registration program 51 registers advertising set out by the advertiser
42 to the displaying image management program 15.
[0105] The tenant data transmission program 52 notifies tenant data in responding to a request
from the key person extraction program 13. The group data acquisition program 53 acquires
data on the group in the staying status from the staying characteristics evaluation
program 14, and the program 53 also sends a notification to the advertiser 42.
[0106] Next, processing of the data notification system according to the second embodiment
of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 10.
[0107] Fig. 10 is a flow chart showing processes of the data notification system according
to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0108] As with the first embodiment, the intra-group relationship is analyzed (ST3) after
processing acquisition of user data (ST1) and judgment of a group (ST2). Then, according
to the tenant data, a judgment is made as to whether a user having high importance
is available (ST21). Here, in this step, the key person extraction program 13 acquires
tenant data by using the tenant data transmission program 52 for a judgment whether
a user having high importance is available or not. Here, the visitor data in the tenant
41 is formatted for storage in the profiles DB 8 and registered therein.
[0109] For example, for a case where data is acquired with a camera and is written in the
profile data fields shown in Fig. 3, data in the field of the age 21 will be stated
with an extended range, and the fields of the group ID 25, the user ID 21 and the
relationship 24 will be left blank. From the data, one or more fields of the gender
23 and the age 22 of visitors among those in the tenant 41 are chosen. When a user
of a group satisfying the values that are found to be most redundant in the data is
available, the user is determined to have high importance. Alternatively, visitor
data may be set out based on the data on users who have finished paying bills at the
pay counter. Alternatively, in addition to the visitors at the time, history data
for one hour, for example, may be set out as visitor data. When it is judged that
a user having high importance is available in step ST21, the process goes to step
ST5. When it is not judged a user having high importance is available, the process
goes to step ST1. Further, when advertising data is notified to a group (ST7), the
process goes to step ST22, and data on the group to which advertising is notified
to the advertiser 42 via the group data acquisition program 53 (ST22). Thereafter,
the process returns to ST1.
[Applications of the Present Invention]
[0110] According to the present invention, in a data notification system that is installed
in a place of a public space to which many people visit, it is possible, while paying
a conscious attention to a user having high importance in the group, to notify data
to users who visit a shop in a group to make the group to stay in a place where the
group can access the data more frequently. Consequently, the present invention can
be applied to intended purposes which require provision of data to many users in a
public space, etc.
1. A data notification method for a system comprising:
a data acquisition device to acquire data of an intended person to whom the data is
notified;
a data notification device to notify the data to the intended person; and
a data processing server which is connected to said data acquisition device and said
data notification device and processes data acquired from said intended person,
said method comprising the steps of:
allowing said data notification device to acquire data of said intended person;
allowing said data processing device to make a judgment as to whether or not a plurality
of intended persons to whom the data is notified form a group based on the data of
said intended person; and
allowing said data notification device to notify the data to said plurality of intended
persons based on the result of the step of making a judgment as to whether or not
said plurality of intended persons form a group.
2. A data notification method according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of making a
judgment as to whether said plurality of intended persons form a group or not, a judgment
is made that intended persons to whom the data is notified form a group,
when a relationship is found among said intended persons based on profile data
owned by said intended persons; or,
when said intended persons are present in the same area for a specific period of
time, in the same area in a same time zone, or in a certain number or more of areas
all together, as viewed from the positional relationship with said data acquisition
device or said data notification device.
3. A data notification method according to claim 1,
wherein the data of the intended person to be acquired from said data acquisition
device includes at least one of:
attribute data of the intended person; location data of the intended person; movement
data of the intended person;
position-related data with other persons in a group to whom the data is notified;
action data of the intended person; and
view-line data of the intended person.
4. A data notification method according to claim 1, said method further comprising the
steps of:
calculating a level of importance of intended persons forming a group to whom the
data is notified based on the data of the intended persons acquired from said data
acquisition device;
making a judgment that the intended person to whom the data is notified who is determined
to have high importance in the step of calculating a level of importance of intended
persons forming a group to whom the data is in a staying status, in view of the positional
relationship with said data acquisition device or said data notification device; and
executing data notification by using said data notification device to said all intended
persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance, or
to intended persons to whom the data is notified other than said intended persons
to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance, when said
intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance
is judged to be in a staying status in the step of making a judgment that said intended
persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance.
5. A method data notification method according to claim 4, wherein said intended persons
to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance is judged
to be in a staying status in the step to make a judgment that said intended persons
to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance is in a staying
status based on the positional relationship with said data acquisition device or said
data notification device, when at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:
said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high
importance have been in a same area for a certain period of time or longer when viewed
from said data acquisition device or said data notification device;
said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high
importance has reduced a distance from said data acquisition device or said data notification
device for a certain period of time or longer;
said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high
importance have come closer to said data acquisition device or said data notification
device within a certain distance; or
said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high
importance have made an input on said data acquisition device or said data notification
device.
6. A method data notification method according to claim 1, said method further comprising
steps of:
calculating the level of importance of intended persons forming a group to whom the
data is notified based on the data of the intended persons to whom the data is notified
acquired from said data acquisition device;
executing data notification by using said data notification device to the intended
persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance in
the step of calculating the level of importance of intended persons forming a group;
making a judgment that said group is in a staying status based on the positional relationship
with said data acquisition device or said data notification device, after executing
data notification by using said data notification device to the intended persons to
whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance; and
when said group is in a staying status in the step of making a judgment that said
group is in a staying status, executing data notification by using said data notification
device to said all intended persons forming a group to whom the data is notified or
to intended persons to whom the data is notified other than said intended persons
to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance.
7. A method data notification method according to claim 6, wherein said group is judged
to be in a staying status in the step of making a judgment that said group is in a
staying status based on the positional relationship with said data acquisition device
or said data notification device, when at least one of the following conditions is
satisfied:
a certain number or more of the intended persons in said group to whom the data is
notified or said all intended persons in said group to whom the data is notified have
been in the same area for a specific period of time or longer as viewed from said
data acquisition device or said data notification device;
a certain number or more of the intended persons in said group to whom the data is
notified or said all intended persons in said group to whom the data is notified have
reduced a distance for a specific period of time or longer from said data acquisition
device or said data notification device;
a certain number or more of the intended persons in said group to whom the data is
notified or said all intended persons in said group to whom the data is notified have
come closer to said data acquisition device or said data notification device within
a certain distance; and
said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high
importance have made an input on said data acquisition device or said data notification
device.
8. A data notification system, said system comprising:
a data acquisition device to acquire data of an intended person to whom the data is
notified;
a data notification device to notify the data to the intended person; and
a data processing server which is connected to said data acquisition device and said
data notification device and processes data acquired from said intended person;
wherein data of said intended person to whom the data is notified is acquired
by said data acquisition device;
a judgment is made as to whether or not a plurality of intended persons to whom
the data is notified form a group based on said data of the intended person acquired
by said data processing device; and
data notification is executed by said data notification device to said intended
persons to whom the data is notified based on the judgment result as to whether said
plurality of intended persons to whom the data is notified form a group or not.
9. A data notification system according to claim 8,
wherein said data notification device executes data notification to said intended
persons to whom the data is notified by using at least one of audio data and image
data.
10. A data notification system according to claim 8, wherein:
a level of importance of intended persons forming a group to whom data is notified
is calculated based on data of the intended persons to whom data is notified that
is acquired from said data acquisition device;
a judgment is made that said intended persons to whom data is notified are in a state
of staying based on the positional relationship with said data acquisition device
or said data notification device, when at least one of the following conditions is
satisfied:
said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high
importance have been in the same area for a certain period of time or longer when
viewed from said data acquisition device or said data notification device;
said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high
importance has reduced a distance from said data acquisition device or said data notification
device for a certain period of time or longer;
said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high
importance have come closer to said data acquisition device or said data notification
device within a certain distance; and
said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high
importance have made an input on said data acquisition device or said data notification
device; and
when said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have
high importance are judged to have been in a staying status, data notification is
executed by using said data notification device to said all intended persons forming
a group to whom the data is notified or to intended persons to whom the data is notified
other than said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to
have high importance,.
11. A data notification system according to claim 10,
wherein association is made with the data to be notified by using said data notification
device at points before and after said intended persons to whom the data is notified
who are determined to have high importance are in a staying status.
12. A data notification system according to claim 8,
wherein different modifications are made in the notification position, the size
and the amount of data between data to be notified to said intended persons to whom
the data is notified who are determined to have high importance before said intended
persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance are
in a staying status, and data to be notified to said intended persons to whom the
data is notified after said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are
determined to have high importance have been in a staying status.
13. A data notification system according to claim 12,
wherein, when a modification is made to data to be notified to said intended persons
to whom the data is notified, the data, which is to be notified to said intended persons
to whom the data is notified after said intended persons to whom the data is notified
who are determined to have high importance has been in a staying status, is notified
before said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have
high importance is in a staying status, by displaying such data at a position which
satisfies at least one of the following positions of the upper, the lower, the right
side and the left side of the displayed data that is to be notified to said intended
persons to whom the data is notified.
14. A data notification system according to claim 12,
wherein, when a modification is made to data to be notified to said intended persons
to whom the data is notified, the data, which is to be notified to said intended persons
to whom the data is notified after said intended persons to whom the data is notified
who are determined to have high importance has been in a staying status, is notified
by displaying such data at a position which satisfies at least one position of:
the forward, the backward, the right side and the left side of the intended persons
to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance; and
the forward and the backward side of the moving direction of the intended persons
to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance.
15. A data notification system according to claim 12,
wherein, a modification is made to data to be notified to said intended persons
to whom the data is notified, data notification is executed by displaying data, which
is to be notified to said intended persons to whom the data is notified after said
intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance
has been in a staying status, in the vicinity of a location on an extension of a line
connecting intended persons to whom the data is notified other than said intended
persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance in
said group with the intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined
to have high importance.
16. A data notification system according to claim 12,
wherein, said data notification device executes two-way data exchange with said
intended persons to whom the data is notified at a time point before the intended
persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance are
in a staying status, and executes one-way data notification at a time point after
the intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high
importance has been in a staying status.
17. A data notification system according to claim 8, said system further comprising the
steps of:
a level of importance of intended persons forming a group to whom the data is notified
is calculated based on the data of the intended persons to whom the data is notified
acquired from said data acquisition device;
data notification is executed by using said data notification device to the intended
persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance;
after the data notification is executed by using said data notification device to
the intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high
importance,
a judgment is made that said group is in a staying status as viewed from the positional
relationship with said data acquisition device or said data notification device, when
at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:
a certain number or more of the intended persons in said group to whom the data is
notified or said all intended persons in said group to whom the data is notified have
been in the same area for a specific period of time or longer as viewed from said
data acquisition device or said data notification device;
a certain number or more of the intended persons in said group to whom the data is
notified or said all intended persons in said group to whom the data is notified have
reduced a distance for a specific period of time or longer from said data acquisition
device or said data notification device;
a certain number or more of the intended persons in said group to whom the data is
notified or said all intended persons in said group to whom the data is notified have
come closer to said data acquisition device or said data notification device within
a certain distance; and
said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high
importance have made an input on said data acquisition device or said data notification
device; and
when the judgment is made that said group is in a staying status, data notification
is executed by using said data notification device to said all intended persons forming
a group to whom the data is notified or to intended persons to whom the data is notified
other than said intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to
have high importance.
18. A data notification system according to claim 17,
wherein association is made with the data to be notified by using said data notification
device at points before and after said group is in a staying status.
19. A data notification system according to claim 17,
wherein modifications of the notification position, the size and the amount of
data are made between data to be notified to said intended persons to whom the data
is notified before said group is in a staying status, and data to be notified to said
intended persons to whom the data is notified after said group has been in a staying
status.
20. A data notification system according to claim 17,
wherein, when a modification is made to data to be notified to said intended persons
to whom the data is notified, the data, which is notified to said intended persons
to whom the data is notified after said group has been in a staying status, is notified
by displaying such data at a position which satisfies at least one position of the
upper, the lower, the right side and the left side of the displayed data that is to
be notified to said intended persons to whom the data is notified before said group
is in a staying status.
21. A data notification system according to claim 17,
wherein, when a modification is made to data to be notified to said intended persons
to whom the data is notified, the data, which is to be notified to said intended persons
to whom the data is notified after said group has been in a staying status, is notified
by displaying such data at a position which satisfies at least one position of: the
forward, the backward, the right side and the left side of the intended persons to
whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance; and the forward
and the backward side of the moving direction of the intended persons to whom the
data is notified who are determined to have high importance.
22. A data notification system according to claim 17,
wherein, when a modification is made to data to be notified to said intended persons
to whom the data is notified, data notification is executed by displaying data, which
is to be notified to said intended persons to whom the data is notified after said
group has been in a staying status, in the vicinity of a location on an extension
of a line connecting intended persons to whom the data is notified other than said
intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined to have high importance
in said group with the intended persons to whom the data is notified who are determined
to have high importance.
23. A data notification system according to claim 17,
wherein, said data notification device executes two-way data exchange with said
intended persons to whom the data is notified at a time point before said group is
in a staying status, and executes one-way data notification to said intended persons
to whom the data is notified at a time point after said group has been in a staying
status.